Apparatus for making photographic pictures

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for making photographic pictures is disclosed comprising a housing provided with an objective; a magazine or cassette containing a film feed mechanism; and a device for positioning at least one mask in the light rays in the interior of the apparatus between the objective and the film and adjacent to the film plane. 
     The apparatus is useful to effect masking operations during the normal photographic operations of imaging.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuing application of U.S. Pat. application Ser. No.025,946, filed Apr. 2, 1979, now Pat. No. 4,272,172.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is concerned with the making of photographic pictureslike records, separations and all other images on a film.

More particularly, the invention is related to an apparatus for makingphotographic pictures allowing a masking during the imaging process.

In photographic art in general, and in the polygraphic industry inparticular, the so-called masking operation is an important step ortechnique in order to obtain high quality copies or prints fromoriginals. The masking operations are generally carried out in thelaboratory, and their complexity considerably raises the price ofphotographic work where such masking is necessary. The masking operationcomprises placing a mask realized beforehand, on a film to besensibilized. The man skilled in the art perfectly knows theseoperations including color corrections on color separations realized forprinting purposes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for makingphotographic pictures allowing the performing of masking operations.

A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus of thedepicted kind which directly allows to obtain an original with masking,during the taking of the picture, and not after having already taken thepicture as it has been the case until now.

Thus, considerable time and work could be saved if a photographicapparatus would allow the masking during the photographic imagingoperation and not only afterwards.

The apparatus of this invention fullfills the above objects. Itcomprises a device arranged to position at least one mask into the pathof light rays in the interior of the apparatus between the objective andthe film. Said mask positioning device preferably places the mask in theproximity of the film plane.

In the following specification, the expression "photographic imagingapparatus" designate an apparatus like a camera which is arranged tomake reproductions or prints from a real or photographed subject by thewell-known photographic process, be it in color or not.

The mask positioning device comprises fixing means allowing a precisealignment of the mask on the device, and is further provided with fixingand positioning means for a precise alignment relative to the apparatus.

The mask positioning device can be provided with at least two alignmentpins adapted to enter corresponding bores in the masks, and said pinsare located on the contact surface of the mask.

The mask positioning device can be provided with a housing, a shutterbeing mounted in front of the mask. The fixing and positioning meansbetween that housing and the apparatus have supporting surfaces and/orgrooves and alignment pins; the housing will be placed in the rear ofthe apparatus.

The housing can be provided with a rear cover, situated behind the maskand arranged to be replaced by a film magazine or cassette comprisingfilm transporting means, or by a sighting device.

The fixing and positioning means between the mask positioning device andthe apparatus can be fitted with a spindle around which this means canpivot, and a catch stopper.

The apparatus may further be provided with a film transport mechanism orfilm feed device, which is arranged to retreat the film from its contactwith the mask in order to have it make an advancing motion. Theretreating motion of the film can be realized by a pivoting movementabout a lateral axle of the film advancing mechanism or by a translationmovement of the mechanism.

The mask positioning device, when pivotably mounted on a rotationspindle, also comprises a back cover mounted on the same spindle, andthe entire unit is provided in the interior in a film magazine orcassette comprising the film advance mechanism. The rotation spindle ofthe mask positioning device is then provided laterally on the oppositeside of the pivoting axle of the film advance mechanism, and a controlrod is provided to release the device cover and to bring the film incontact with the mask, and vice versa.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In the drawing, several preferred embodiments and variants of theapparatus according to the invention are represented. In the drawing,

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a first embodiment of aphotographic imaging apparatus, having a housing and a removablemagazine, and an intermediate housing arranged for receiving a maskbeing inserted between said apparatus housing and said magazine;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a sighting device to be placed on theintermediate housing of the apparatus according to FIG. 1, when themagazine has been removed;

FIG. 3 represents a sectional view of a magazine variant to be used withthe apparatus of FIG. 1, the magazine variant being shown together withthe intermediate housing;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the intermediate housing of theapparatus as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the sighting device which isrepresented as a sectional view in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1 of theintermediate housing of FIGS. 1 and 4, with the upper plate closing thetop of the intermediate housing being removed;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line VII--VII of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of a second embodiment of aphotographic imaging apparatus, comprising a housing and a removablemagazine, the latter being fitted with a mask positioning device and afilm unwinding device;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the magazine of the apparatus shown inFIG. 8 wherein the mask positioning device is open and the filmunwinding device not operating; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the magazine of the apparatus shown inFIG. 8 wherein the mask positioning device is closed and the filmunwinding device in its operating position, in abutment againts the maskpositioning device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The photographic imaging apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 is arranged anddesigned to produce photographic film images combined with a maskingoperation effected simultaneously with the imaging operation and notseparatly and successively as it is the case in the prior art. Thisapparatus 1 comprises a housing 2, a removable magazine 3 and anintermediate housing 4, removable also and placed between housing 2 andmagazine 3. The intermediate housing 4 is provided with a device for theinsertion and the exposure of the mask, see detailed description below.The housing 2 is of conventional construction and has a rear portion 5.On its lower surface, a threaded bore 6 for the fixing of the apparatus1 on a stand or tripod (not shown) as well as a toothed rack 7 directedto the front are provided. The rack 7 allows displacement of anobjective support 8 by means of a knob 9. Support 8 bearing an objective10 provided with diaphragm and shutter in the conventional kind, isconnected to the rear portion 5 by a bellows 11. The objective 10 cantherefore be displaced when knob 9 is rotated in order to adjust theproper distance. The rack 7 has, on its free end, a stop abutment 12 sothat the support 8 cannot go out of the rack 7.

The rear portion 5 is provided, at its lower part, with a protrudinghorizontal rail 13 defining a groove 14 wherein a corresponding rib 15of the intermediate housing 4 can be inserted. This intermediate housing4 is fixed at its upper portion by a hook or latch 16 to the rearportion 5. The intermediate housing 4 can therefore be removed from therear portion 5 of housing 2 when pressure is exerted onto the rear endof hook 16, then the two upper portions of the housings 2 and 4 areslightly moved apart, and housing 4 is finally taken out of the groove14. The two pieces are put together in an analogous manner. Thepositioning of intermediate housing 4 against housing 2 is facilitatedby two positioning pins 17 on the intermediate housing 4 which entercorresponding bores 18 of the rear portion 5 of the housing 2. The rearend of the intermediate housing 4 (see also FIG. 4) is provided with acover 19 pivotably journalled on an axle 20. This cover 19 is a U-shapedtrilateral frame having at its interior surfaces, which form the U, agroove 21 (see FIG. 4) adapted to receive a simple closure 22 shown inFIG. 4 or the frame 22 of a sighting device 23 represented in FIG. 5 andshown in a sectional view, in FIG. 2, or the magazine 3 with a film asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The magazine 3 can thus be introduced from below, as shown in FIG. 1,into the U-shaped frame 19 of the intermediate housing 4. The film 24 inthe magazine 3 comes out of a supply reel 25, goes around an upper guideroller 26 and then to a film presser 27 biassed by a spring 28, around alower guide roller 29, and is then wound upon a bobbin or reel 30. Theroller 26 and 29, the film presser 27 and the spring 28 are mounted onan arm 31 having bent-away lever arm 32 which is captured in a notch 33.This notch 33 is cut into one of the circular edges of the receivingbobbin 30. The arm 31 is mounted pivotably about an axle 35 and isbiassed into notch 33 by a spring 36 inserted between the lever arm 32and the interior surface of the wall 37 of the magazine 3.

The transport of film 24 within the magazine 3 is operated in thefollowing way. When the take-up bobbin 30 is rotated in the clockwisedirection, the lever arm 32 leaves the notch 33 and slides on thecircular edge 34 of bobbin 30 during one complete rotation of saidbobbin. The arm 31 has pivoted about its axle 35 when the tip of thelever arm 32 has left the notch 33, so that the film transport duringthe 360° rotation of the receiving bobbin is effected with arm 31, guiderollers 26 and 29 and film presser 27 in a retreated position relativeto the film contacting surfaces of the magazine. In this way, anyfriction of the film on its contact surfaces defined by the rear wall ofintermediate housing 4 or by a mask, is positively avoided.

When the bobbin 30 has made a complete rotation, notch 33 comes infacing relationship with the tip of the lever arm 32, and spring 36pushes the lever arm upwardly so that said tip enters notch 3 and arm 31is swivelled, pressing the film 24 against its contact surfaces of theintermediate housing 4 or a mask.

In the variant of the magazine 3, shown in FIG. 3, the film advancingand transporting mechanism comprises the supply reel 25, the receivingbobbin 30, the guide rollers 26 and 29, and the film presser 27 with itsspring 28. The film presser and the guide rollers are mounted on aT-shaped arm 38; its T shaft 38a bearing at its end a spring 39. Theother end of spring 39 rests against the inner wall of the housing wall37. The T shaft 38a of arm 38 has a downwardly directed prolongation 40engaging a cam 41 on bobbin 30. A crank handle 42 is provided to rotatethe receiving bobbin 30 which, at the beginning of a rotation of 360°,pushes with its cam 41 the prolongation 40 and thus the arm 38 to therear, against the action of spring 39. The film presser 27 and the twoguide rollers 26 and 29 which bear the film 24 are retracted, and theadvance of film 24 is effected while it is out of contact with itscontact surfaces.

The man skilled in the art will understand that, in the apparatusvariant shown in FIG. 3, the film transportation can only be startedafter the retreat of the film from its contact surfaces, parallel to itsoriginal or exposure plane, whereas in the embodiment of FIG. 1 the filmtransportation takes place after the film retreat by pivoting about anaxle 35 arranged laterally relative to the film plane.

As it has already been mentioned, the separation of the film (during itsadvance) from its contact surfaces (generally the surface of a mask asexplained below) permits avoidance of any friction of the film surfaceon the sensitive mask surface. The intermediate housing 4, shown in FIG.3, is identical to that of FIGS. 1 and 2. The magazine 3 is thusconnected to the apparatus 1 by insertion, from below, into the grooves21 of the cover 19, and at the end of the course, a spring pawl 43 (seeFIGS. 1 and 3) ascertains the holding of the magazine.

Instead of the magazine 3, the cover 19 may receive a simple closureplate 22 (FIG. 4) having a central contact portion 45 freely mounted onthe interior of the closure plate 22 via a spring (not shown). Theportion 45 of the plate 22 serves as a film presser when a film mask isprepared; this will be explained later.

The sighting device 23 (see FIG. 2 and 5) has lateral ribs 46 whichallow the introduction of this device 23 into the grooves 21 of thecover 19. The sighting device 23 further comprises a diffusing screen 47forwardly biassed by a spring 48, see FIG. 2, so that it may be pushedagainst the film contact surfaces of the intermediate housing 4. Thedevice 23 also comprises an ocular 49 connected to the frame 22 by acasing 50.

The intermediate housing shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 has contactsurfaces 51 which form a frame on which a mask 52 is normally applied.The supporting frame, formed by surfaces 51 has on its upper side twopositioning pins 53 that enter corresponding bores 54 in the mask 52.Behind the mask 52, there are two shutter covers 55 and 56 the pivotingaxles 57, 58 of which are arranged laterally in the housing 4 (see alsoFIGS. 6 and 7). Opening fingers 59 and 60 are arranged on the upper,enlarged portion 61, 62 of the covers 55, 56 in a position slightlyoffset to axles 57 and 58 against the interior of the housing. Thefingers 59 and 60 traverse meniscal-shaped slots 63 and 64 of an upperplate 64 which bears the upper end of the axles 57 and 58 as well as anopening device comprising a T-shaped piece 66 (see FIG. 6) pivotablyjournalled at 67, the T-shaft being attached by a shutter pin 68. One ofthe opposing T branches is connected to the opening finger 59 whereasthe other one is connected by a control rod 69 to the other openingfinger 60. Finger 59 is further connected to the rod 69 by a spring 70.When the shutter pin 68 is pushed down, T-shaped piece 66 pivots aboutits axle 67 in clockwise direction and further moves fingers 59 and 60which then travel within meniscular slots 63 and 64. In this way, thecovers 55 and 56 are opened like window blinds. In FIGS. 1 and 3, it canbe seen that the shutter pin 68 of the intermediate housing 4 isautomatically pushed down by the adjacent surface of the rear portion 5when the intermediate housing 4 is pressed home against housing 2.Covers 55 and 56 thus automatically open when intermediate housing 4 isapplied against the rear portion 5 of housing 2, and they automaticallyclose due to the tension of spring 70 (see FIG. 6) when the intermediatehousing 4 is separated from housing 2.

The apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 operates as follows.

It will first be assumed that a real subject should be photographed,e.g. a color diapositive should be made with a masking effect to correctcolors. To do this, a color correction film mask will be used which willbe exposed and placed into the intermediate housing before mounting on atripod (not shown) which will be screwed in from below into the threadedbore 6 of the housing 2. The intermediate housing 4 is then fixed to therear portion 5 of housing 2 after having introduced the sighting device23 into the intermediate housing. Then the shutter of objective 10 isopened, and the image framing is effected followed by the usual distanceand luminosity adjustments of the image formed on the diffusing plate 47of the sighting device 23. After the end of all adjustments, theapparatus must not be displaced or otherwise disturbed. The hook 16 isnow operated, and the intermediate housing 4 bearing the sighting device23 is separated from housing 2 which remains on the tripod. In a darkchamber, the cover 19 is opened, the sighting device 23 is removed fromthe intermediate housing 4 and a film 52, (e.g., a simpleblack-and-white film) is placed on the positioning pins 53 since onlyone color correction is being made. Film 52 is applied against thesurfaces 51, and plate 22 (see FIG. 4) is slid into the grooves 21 ofcover 19 until the closure of spring pawl 43; the cover 19 is closedover the film 52. One can now leave the dark chamber since intermediatehousing 4 is closed. The intermediate housing 4 is now introducedagainst rear portion 5 of housing 2. As already been mentioned, thecovers 55 and 56 which protect the film 52 from daylight automaticallyopen by the action of the shutter pin 68 when the intermediate housing 4is placed against the rear portion 5 of housing 2.

The film 52 is now ready for exposure, and since it is a colorcorrection film, the appropriate filter should be placed before theobjective in order to obtain the desired color correction. The colorcorrection filters and the film used for masking operations will not bedescribed in detail since these techniques and the materials necessaryfor their execution are perfectly well known to the man skilled in theart.

When the appropriate filter (not shown) has been placed in front of theobjective 10, a photograph can be taken to sensibilize the film 52 whichacts as a film mask. Once the photograph is taken, the filter (notshown) before the objective 10 is removed, and the intermediate housing4 is separated from the rear portion 5 of housing 2, bearing in mind thecaution not to displace or disturb the housing 2 on its tripod.

When the intermediate housing 4 is separated from housing 2 and theiradjacent surfaces are moved apart, spring 70 (see FIG. 6) immediatelycloses the covers 55 and 56, and the film mask 52 now sensibilized isprotected from environmental light. In the dark room, cover 19 of theintermediate housing 4 is opened, film 52 is removed, developed, andfixed. It is dried and replaced on the positioning pins 53. The plate 22is drawn from its cover frame 19, and magazine 3 is introduced in thegrooves 21 (see FIG. 1 or 3). Cover 19 over the magazine 3 is closed,and the plane of the film 24 which is in the magazine 3 comes now insurface contact with the film mask 52. Now, the unit formed of theintermediate housing 4 and the magazine 3 is placed against the rearportion 5 of housing 2 which is still on the tripod (not shown) in itsadjusted position. When this placing is effected, the covers 55 and 56of the intermediate housing 4 opens automatically once more, and aphotograph can be taken on the film 24 whereby the light rays comingfrom the subject traverse first the film mask 52 whereon film 24 is insuperficial contacting relationship. In this way, an image is formedwhich has automatically been corrected in colors by masking. Now, it ispossible to develop the photograph, or more photographs can be taken, beit for confirmation or be it for the production of other images, theplacement of other filters before the objective 10 being of coursepossible.

It should be noted that all operations described until now will beeffected in practice much more rapidly than the description couldproceed.

It should further be noted that the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 canbe used much more universally as described. The description of a specialuse comprising the photographic imaging of a color image together with acorrection mask has been selected due to its relative simplicity and tothe fact that it permits a most simple and clear description of theoperation. Those skilled in the art know that there exist other masksthan black and white ones used for color corrections. There are colorretracting masks as well as a plurality of masks for special effects,which can be prepared inside or outside the camera. Such special masksare e.g. transparent ones bearing a text to be superimposed on aphotograph. It should be clear that all such masks can be used in thecamera of the invention. On the other hand, the inventor has found thathe could superimpose a plurality of masks within the intermediatehousing 4. It is therefore possible to place on the positioning pins 53,e.g. one color correction mask, then a transparent text bearing mask,etc. All possible mask combinations will be possible.

The apparatus of the invention is particularly useful to make series ofphotographs combined with masking operations. The apparatus shown inFIGS. 1 to 7 can be used to prepare directly color separations from aparticular real subject, and the separations will be obtained after therealisation of the film mask when appropriate filters (not shown) areplaced in front of the objective 10 of the apparatus. Another use of theapparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 is the preparation and realization ofcolor catalogs representing a plurality of objects which can nowdirectly be photographed in separations together with masking operationsand/or addition of transparent patterns realized outside the camera.

In addition to the numerous uses briefly mentioned above, the apparatusof the invention is capable of realizing photographs having outstandingquality. In fact, the sighting with the device 23 is effected in thefilm plane, i.e. exactly between the mask and the film. Even if aplurality of masks is superimposed in the intermediate housing 4, theadjustments can always be made in the film plane, i.e. between the lastmask and the film 24 unwound in magazine 3. On the other hand, the filmmask 52 and the film 24 in magazine 3, be it that of FIG. 1 or of FIG.3, can be placed with their gelatine layers facing each other wherebythe two imaging planes are nearly identical. In order to warrant aperfect image quality, the inventor has designed the film 24transporting means in such a manner that any friction between the filmmask or masks and the film 24 is positively avoided. The filmtransporting devices (see FIGS. 1 and 3) are therefore such that thefilm 24 is retreated from the mask every time it is advanced. When theadvance has been made, the film is automatically replaced against themask or masks. It should be noted that the magazine 3 can at any momentbe replaced by the sighting device for a checking or an adjustment.

The man skilled in the art will understand that, owing to the presenceof the positioning pins 53, the contact surfaces 51 and the film presser27, the mask will always be positioned and placed relatively to theimage. Furthermore, owing to the presence of the groove 14 of rearportion 5, corresponding to the rib 15 of the intermediate housing 4,and to the positioning pins 17 fitting into the bores 18 of the rearportion 5, the position of intermediate housing 4 relative to thehousing 2 will always be invariable. This exact positioning of the maskrelative to intermediate housing 4 and of the latter to housing 2 allowsan excellent image quality. This fact is particularly important since itis indispensable that the mask just realized must precisely be replacedinto the ray bundle so that further photographs can be taken.

Those skilled in the art will further understand that the disclosedapparatus can be supported by an optical bench in order to realizeimages from transparent originals projected through the objective 10 bya condenser (not shown). To resume, the described apparatus allows therealisation of images with extreme precision using one or more masks ofdifferent thickness since the adjustment is always made in the filmplane. Furthermore, the film advancing means always retreat the filmfrom the mask during film transportation so that any film damage ordefect is avoided. The parts of the apparatus can precisely be assembledso that, when housing 2 is adjusted to the subject, all intermediateoperations can be made without need for a readjustment; all adjustmentscan be rechecked at any moment. The apparatus can also be used formaking photographs, separations etc. on an optical bench to reproducetransparent originals, making special effects like fading in of texts orother information. The major advantage is however the fact that filmmasks can be made during the photographing of a subject whereas theapparatus of the prior art required to masking always in a dark roomafter imaging and on the base of developed original films.

The embodiment just described can of course be modified withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, themask can be introduced at another location than adjacent to the filmplane. The intermediate housing 4 could therefore be placed at anylocation between the objective 10 and the film plane. However, it shouldbe noted that the image quality increases when the mask is approachingthe film plane. The intermediate housing 4 could be introduced in achamber of the housing 2 instead of being affixed against the housing 2,and the magazine 3 could be affixed to the housing 2. In such a case,positioning means for the intermediate housing 4 should be provided onthe housing 2 so that the former could be removed and replaced in saidchamber to occupy always the identical position.

In the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the apparatus 71comprises a first housing 72 similar to housing 2 of the firstembodiment, and a second housing 73 containing the film transportingdevice 72 as well as the mask positioning device 75. The housing 72comprises a rear portion 5 with its lower threaded bore 6 to be fixed ona tripod (not shown), and a toothed rack 7 whereupon the objectivesupport 8 is displaced by the action of a knob 9. The support 8 bears anobjective 10 with its diaphragm and shutter, and it is connected to therear portion 5 by a bellows 11. The objective 10 can be displacedforward and backward to effect distance adjustments. The rack 7 has atits foremost end a stop abutment 12 so that the objective support 8cannot run out of the rack 7. The rear portion 5 comprises at its lowerportion a groove 14 wherein a corresponding rib 15 of the housing 73 canbe inserted which is positioned relative to the rear portion 5 by asecond rib 76 entering a groove 77 at the upper portion of piece 5. Thehousing 73 is held against rear portion 5 by a hook or latch 78. Therear portion 5 further comprises a protruding device 75.

This mask positioning device 75 comprises a frame 80 having in itsinterior two shutter wings 81, 82 which are similar to the covers 55, 56of the intermediate housing 4 in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 7. Theopening and closing of wings 81, 82 is operated by shutter rod (notshown) in the same way as in the foregoing embodiment. The frame 80 ispivotably journalled about an axis 83, and its rear part is closed by acover 84 comprising at its center a film presser 85 biased by a spring86. The frame 80 has supporting or contacting surfaces 87 on which amask 88, introduced over two positioning pins 89, can be placed.

On the other side of the housing 73, opposed to axle 83, the filmtransporting mechanism can be pivoted about the pivoting axle 90. Thistransporting mechanism comprises a frame 91 bearing a supply reel 92, aguide roller 93, a film presser 94 mounted on the frame 91 via a spring95, a second guide roller 96, and a take-up reel 97, the rotation axisof which coincides with the pivoting axis of the device 74. The film 98is thus unwound from the supply reel 92, goes around the guide roller 93to the film presser 94, around the guide roller 96, and is wound up onthe take-up reel 97. The film transporting control device is not shownin FIGS. 8 to 10. This device may be any conventional means moved by ahandle or a motor. The pivoting of the film transporting device 74 iscontrolled by a rod 99 fixed, at one side, at 100 to the frame 91 and,on the other hand, to a control wheel 102. The rod comprises a retainingpin 103 arranged to hold in place the cover 84 of the mask positioningdevice 75, said cover being also biased by the action of a spring 104fixed to the casing 105 of the housing by a hook 106.

The casing 105 of the housing 73 comprises a portion 107 pivotablyjournalled about an axle 108 so that the film transporting device 74will be accessible. The housing 73 further comprises in its interior asafety pin 109 which holds in place the mask positioning device 75 whenthe housing 73 is separated from the rear portion 5 of the housing 72.

The operation of this second embodiment will easily be understood;reference is made to FIGS. 9 to 10.

First, the housing 72 of the apparatus is directed to a subject to beimaged with simultaneous masking. The housing 73 is removed from therear portion 5 of housing 72, which remains at its place, and housing 73is transported to a dark room where safety pin 109 is opened to pivotframe 80 upwardly. The mask positioning device 75 and the filmtransporting device 74 are then in the positions shown in FIG. 9. Now,the mask 88 is introduced on the positioning pins 89, and frame 80 iscaused to pivot downwardly against the cover 84; when it is in contacttherewith, the safety pin 109 is correctly replaced. The maskpositioning device 15 is now in the position shown in FIG. 8. The wings81 and 82 are closed, and the housing 73 can be exposed to daylight andreplaced against the rear portion 5 of housing 72. As already explainedwith the first embodiment, wings 81 and 82 automatically open when themagazine is placed. Now, the mask is sensibilized. The housing 73 isagain removed from the rear portion 5, goes to the dark room, the maskis developed, and the mask is replaced in the already described manner.Then the housing 73 is replaced against the rear portion 5 in thealready described way, and the wheel 102 is rotated half a turn toarrive in the position shown in FIG. 10. When the wheel passes from itsposition shown in FIG. 9 into that represented in FIG. 10, retaining pin103 liberates the cover 84 which under the action of spring 104, israised and pivots upwardly into the position shown in FIG. 10.Simultaneously, rod 99 is drawn upwardly too and brings the filmtransport device 74, swivelling about axis 90 (FIG. 8) in contact withthe mask positioning device 55 until film 98 is pressed against mask 88by the film presser 85. Now, one or more photographs can be made throughthe mask 88, it being understood that between two successive images, thedevice 74 is pivoted into the position shown in FIG. 9 to effect thefilm advance free from solid contact and thus to avoid any frictionbetween the mask 88 and the advancing film 98. The housing 73 is finallyremoved for its transfer to the dark room, and casing portion 107 of thehousing 105 is lowered in order to give access to the film for itsdevelopment.

The same way as the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 7, the second onejust described can serve a plurality of purposes using all types ofknown masks. These masks may have any thickness whatsoever, and ingeneral, several masks can be superimposed. In the second embodiment,the sighting device (not shown) is an independent one placed on thehousing 72. It should be clear that the embodiment of FIGS. 8 to 10 canalso be modified within the scope and spirit of this invention. Forexample, the housing 72 and the housing 73 can be made of one sole pieceor unit should one desire to simplify the apparatus. In this case, anupper opening should be provided in the housing 72 in order to make themask positioning device accessible. It is further possible to vary thehousing 73 in providing it with a chamber destined for receiving themask positioning device 75.

The originality of the apparatus of the invention and its embodimentsand variants are not based upon the modifications discussed above but onthe fact that it allows to execute the masking operations during theimaging of originals, and these masking operations may be as complex asthose realized until now in special laboratories.

What is claimed is:
 1. Apparatus for making a photographic picture on afilm which is exposable in a film plane, said apparatus comprising:afirst housing; an objective in said first housing; an optical pathwaythrough said first housing and through said objective thereof; a secondhousing, separably attached to and separable from said first housing,said film plane being in said second housing; said second housingincluding mask positioning means for positioning a mask generally insaid film plane for intercepting light from said objective; said secondhousing including shutter means positioned between said mask positioningmeans and said objective; means for automatically opening said shuttermeans when said second housing is attached to said first housing and forautomatically closing said shutter means when said second housing isseparated from said first housing; and a photographic film transportingdevice located in said second housing on the side of said maskpositioning means away from said objective and including means formoving said photographic film between a first position generally at saidfilm plane and a second position away from said film plane.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1, further including a swivel mount in said secondhousing for said mask positioning means, for enabling said maskpositioning means to swivel a mask from a position at which the mask isgenerally in said film plane to a position at which the mask is awayfrom said film plane toward said objective.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein said moving means comprises a swivel mount in said secondhousing for swivelling the film away from and toward the mask supportedon said mask positioning means.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, whereinsaid film transporting device further includes film advancing means foradvancing film across said film plane, said moving means moving saidfilm into said second position such that said film does not contact saidmask supported on said mask positioning means when said advancing meansadvances said film, and moving said film into said first position and incontact with said mask supported on said mask positioning means so thatboth said mask and said film are generally in said film plane followingadvancement of the film by said film advancing means.
 5. The apparatusof claim 4, wherein said advancing means comprises two separated rolls,around which film may pass as the film is being advanced; said swivelmount being connected with at least one said roll for swivelling thefilm away from and toward the mask supported on said positioning means.